The Primitives perfectly pure pop and rock album. For some reason this album is not held in as high esteem as their debut album, Lovely, but I have no idea why. While Lovely does have some lovely tunes on it, this is light years better. On just their second album they have perfected their sound., with far more variety and subtle touches in the production such as the sitar sound in the chorus of "Dizzy Heights".
The first 6 tracks are almost uniformly excellent. One of the hits from the album, "Sick Of It All", while still being a pleasant catchy tune is actually the least interesting of these 6 songs. Each of them has a unique sound. The chiming tone of the guitar on"Summer Rain" provides the perfect texture for the melody and Tracy's vocals. Guitarist and primary song writer, Paul Court, takes over lead vocals on "Shine" which begins with a lovely bass guitar and his perfectly reverbed voice. The opener, "Outside" is perhaps the most unique song on the album. It's a short song, but it's so good it alone is worth the price of this CD. "All The Way Down", co-written by Court and Tracy and sung by Court, somehow manages to not be depressing despite it's subject matter. It's just that catchy a song and while it features some heavy, almost shoegazer-like guitar noise near the end of the song it never overwhelms it. A 'beat version' of the song is featured as a reprise near the end of the album and really does sound like 60's beat music. Think British Invasion era beat music. With it's triple time tempo, emphasis on drums and handclaps, 60's style lickedysplit organ solo, you'd almost think it was a lost hit from 1965.
The strong songs continue with the hits "Secrets" and "Way Behind Me", the latter being the standout of the two. Most of the non-hits sound like should've-been-hits. Most songs on this disc are essential and despite the variety they all have some little similarities here and there, particularly with the vocals - the excellent vocals, and thus the album flows perfectly. The album starts out like the perfect summer day and it keeps that feel throughout nearly the entire album in spite of a weaker, relative to the songs around it, track near the end ("Noose", though I'm sure there are those who would love this song, it just doesn't do anything for me).
This is a great album. If you like great pop-rock with a little bit of a 60's influence then this this is for you. An absolutely essential album. Far better than any of their contemporaries such as the Darling Buds who trod similar ground, but who's music, while not awful, paled in comparison to this album.
(Oddly, their album prior to this, Lovely, and the one released after this, Galore, have been remastered in spite of being somewhat inferior - not bad, just not as good - albums relative to Pure. Hopefully Pure will soon receive the remaster treatment it deserves by someone who knows how to best enhance the sound of Pure pop perfection).
I always hesitate to review music because tastes differ widely, and it's difficult to describe sounds in writing. But this album is wonderful. Tracy's voice over the chiming guitars soothes my soul. I often put this album on repeat and just listen over and over. I enjoy some of their other stuff, but this album in particular is the one I love.
I think the Primitives were bigger in the UK than in the USA where I live, which is a shame. We really could have used something like this during the years when Grunge dominated the airwaves with humorless depression.
The Darling Buds have a similar sound, and I like them too, but if forced to choose, I go for the Primitives.
5つ星のうち5.0This band deserves more attention give them a listen.
2020年5月26日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
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Ive enjoyed the primitives very much since rediscovering them on youtube this album has some wonderfull songs in particular way behind me and summer rain but the whole thing is good.